10

Science
Quarter 1 – Module 1:
Plate Tectonics ( B )

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Science – Grade 10
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 – Module 2-Plate tectonics ( B )
First Edition, 2019

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over them.

Published by the Department of Education

Secretary:
Undersecretary:
Assistant Secretary:

Development Team of the Module

Authors:
Lesson 1 & 2 - Hellen M. Dizon
Lesson 3 - Lilibeth B. Montemayor
Lesson 4 - Patty M. Canyong
Lesson 5 & 6 - Dulce S. Ortega
Lesson 6 - Nilo Salazar
Lesson 7 - Marygin T. Joson
Lesson 8 - Helen Rose A. Ferrancullo / Shirlie G. Custodio
Editor: Rebecca M. Roxas, EPS
Reviewer: Arlene Gatpo, PSDS
Management Team: Malcolm S. Garma, Regional Director; Genia V. Santos,
CLMD Chief; Dennis M. Mendoza, Regional EPS in Charge of LRMS and Regional
ADM Coordinator; Maria Magdalena M. Lim, CESO V, Schools Division
Superintendent; Aida H. Rondilla , CID Chief; Lucky S. Carpio, Division EPS in
Charge of LRMS and Division ADM Coordinator

Printed in the Philippines by ________________________

Department of Education – Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR) (Sample)

Office Address: ____________________________________________

____________________________________________
Telefax: ____________________________________________
E-mail Address: ____________________________________________

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines
 10

Science
Quarter 1 – Module 2:
Plate Tectonics ( B )

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

1. Prepare the pictures that will be used in each activity.

2. Prepare the visual aids to be used in each activity.

3. Download activities needed for the face to face interaction.

4. Post the already available sites (videos) used in activities

a. Pre-laboratory videos for “Seismic waves”.

b. Pre-laboratory video for “How to find the epicenter of an Earthquake”

c. Face to Face discussion.

5. Prepare the table that will be used in the establishing purpose of the lesson
and generalization. (Information in the table below should be blank)

For the learner:

The master-based module is design to deliver the lesson using alternative delivery
mode. The learners are assigned to use digital tools to further understand the lesson
better. At your own pace, the learners are expected to produce and practice the task
being asked in each activity of the lesson. Most of the lessons are do it yourself lessons
that will test your ability to understand the lesson base on your own understanding.
The teacher will just intervene if certain concepts were not understood.

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 What I Need to Know

Earthquakes are scary, right? Well, they're scary because they create
seismic waves, and those seismic waves carry energy. Technically all waves
carry energy, but seismic waves carry a lot of it.

This module is divided into lessons, namely:

• What I Know
• Module 2 – Plate Tectonics ( B ): Distribution of active volcanoes;
earthquake epicenters

o Lesson 1 – Seismic Waves (Characteristics/Speed)

o Lesson 2 - Earthquake Epicenter: Triangulation Method ( 2 )

• Assessment

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Recall the characteristics of seismic waves in terms of speed

2. Locate the earthquake epicenter using triangulation method

Essential Competency: Describe and relate the distribution of active

volcanoes, earthquake epicenters, and major mountain belts to Plate
Tectonics Theory. (S10ES – la-j-36.1)

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 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Which of the following is NOT a possible source of a seismic wave?
A. bomb explosion C. an opera singer

B. An earthquake D. an erupting volcano

2. Which of the following seismic waves causes the most damage?

A. Love waves C. Rayleigh waves

B. P-waves D. S-waves

3. Why do seismic waves cause a lot of damage?

A. They contain a lot of energy C. they move extremely fast

B. They have a high frequency D. they only travel through

solids

4. Seismic waves are strongest

A. At the center of the earthquake C. during foreshocks

B. At the Earth’s surface D. during aftershocks

5. A longitudinal body wave that travels through solids, liquids and

gases and moves very fast.

A. Love wave C. Rayleigh wave

B. P-wave D. S-wave

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 Lesson
Seismic Waves
1
Seismic waves are earthquake generated and recorded on a
seismograph. They reveal the existence of the Earth’s layers: crust, mantle,
outer core and the inner core. When an earthquake occurs, energy is released
in all directions from the interior to the surface. The seismic waves produced
in such an event travels faster through the different phases of matter.

What’s In

You already know that the Earth lithosphere drifted apart and formed
tectonic plates. These plates collide, move apart and slide from each other. In
one of the movements, earthquakes happen. In this lesson, we will have a
deeper discussion on seismic waves, its properties, and its relation to
earthquakes. In this lesson, you will learn what seismic waves are, the various
types of seismic waves, and their frequencies. You will learn about P-waves,
S-waves, Rayleigh waves and Love waves.

body wave: A seismic wave that travels through the Earth rather than across
its surface.
Love wave: A surface seismic wave that cause horizontal shifting of the Earth
during an earthquake.
P-wave: A seismic pressure wave that travel through the body of the Earth.
The fastest of all seismic waves.
Rayleigh wave: A surface seismic wave generated by the interaction of P-
waves and S-waves at the surface of the Earth that move with a rolling motion.
seismic wave: A wave of energy that travels through the Earth as a result of
an earthquake.

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surface wave: A seismic wave that travels across the surface of the Earth as
opposed to through it. Surface waves usually have larger amplitudes and
longer wavelengths than body waves, and they travel more slowly than body
waves.
S-wave: A shear or transverse body seismic wave, with motion
perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation.

What’s New

Seismic Waves
Seismic waves are low-frequency waves that travel through the Earth.
They're generally caused by an earthquake, explosion or volcano. Seismic
waves are studied by seismologists and detected using seismometers. These
waves are described using a number on the Richter scale. Because of their
high energy, earthquake waves are definitely the most damaging and
dramatic. But why is it that they have so much energy?
One difference between types of waves is the way some move through
the interior of the Earth and others ride along the surface. As you can see in
the image above, there are two general categories of waves: surface waves and
body waves. Surface waves are, unsurprisingly, the ones that move along the
surface of the Earth, while body waves go through the interior.
Types of Seismic Waves

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Types of Body Waves: P-Waves vs. S-Waves

The first thing you feel when an earthquake happens is the P-wave, or
primary wave. The primary wave moves faster and arrives first. It's a
longitudinal wave. P-waves cause relatively minor damage.
Next comes the S-wave, or secondary wave. The S-wave is pretty much
the exact opposite of the P-wave: It's transverse. It's slow moving, but it causes
far more damage.

Types of Surface Waves: Rayleigh vs. Love

Waves
There are also two types of surface waves: Rayleigh (also called 'Lamb')
waves and Love waves. These are created when body waves interact with the
surface of the Earth. These surface waves are far more dangerous and cause
the most damage.
Love waves cause by far the most damage of any kind of seismic wave.
Love waves are faster and larger in amplitude than Rayleigh waves, which is
why they arrive first. And because of their 'shearing' nature, they cause the
Earth to split as it's pulled in multiple directions at once.
Rayleigh waves are the last to arrive. They're the slowest kind of
seismic wave, but they still cause a lot of damage. The frequency of Rayleigh
waves.

Two Types of Body Waves: P-Waves vs. S-Waves

The first thing you feel when an earthquake happens is the P-wave, or
primary wave. This is like the salad course - it gets to the table quickly, and
isn't particularly bad for you. The primary wave moves faster and arrives first.
It's a longitudinal wave, meaning it vibrates the ground parallel to the
direction of motion - it basically shakes the ground up and down or side to
side. Despite having the highest frequency (the number of vibrations per
second), P-waves cause relatively minor damage.
Next comes the S-wave, or secondary wave, which is like the main
course - it can be sizable and have a big impact on your health. The S-wave
is pretty much the exact opposite of the P-wave: It's transverse (the vibration
is 90 degrees to the direction of motion), it's slow moving, but it causes far
more damage. Imagine it as a ripple through the ground. S-waves have lower
frequencies than P-waves but still much higher frequency than surface waves.

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Two Types of Surface Waves: Rayleigh vs. Love Waves

There are also two types of surface waves: Rayleigh (also called 'Lamb')
waves and Love waves. These are created when body waves interact with the
surface of the Earth, creating surface waves that ripple along the surface, as
if a stone had been dropped in a still pond. These surface waves are far more
dangerous and cause the most damage.

Love waves cause by far the most damage of any kind of seismic wave.
This is the dessert course! We love dessert, after all, but our bodies don't love
us for eating it. Love waves are faster and larger in amplitude than Rayleigh
waves, which is why they arrive first. And because of their 'shearing' nature,
they cause the Earth to split as it's pulled in multiple directions at once. The
frequency of Love waves vary with the speed -- slower Love waves have a
higher frequency.

Rayleigh waves are the last to arrive, like a final cheese course. They
create ripples from the epicenter of the earthquake - this is the seismic wave
that looks the most like a pond ripple. They're the slowest kind of seismic
wave, but because of their large amplitudes, they still cause a lot of damage.
The frequency of Rayleigh waves, like all waves, varies, but is lower than
either type of body waves. Let’s look at the table below.

Seismic Waves
Type (and names) Particle Typical Other Characteristics
Motion Velocity
P waves Alternating VP ~ 5 – 7 P motion travels
Compressional, compressions km/s in typical fastest in materials, so
Primary, Longitudinal (“pushes”) and Earth’s crust; the P-wave is the first-
dilations >~ 8 km/s in arriving energy on a
(“pulls”) Earth’s mantle seismogram.

core; 1.5
km/s in water;
0.3 km/s in air

S waves Shear, Alternating VS ~ 3 – 4 S-waves do not travel

Secondary, transverse km/s in typical through fluids, so do
Transverse motions Earth’s crust; not exist in Earth’s
outer core. S waves
travel slower than P
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 >~ 4.5 km/s waves in a solid and,
in Earth’s therefore, arrive after
mantle; ~ 2.5- the P wave.
3.0 km/s in
(solid) inner
core

L waves Love, Transverse V L ~ 2.0 - 4.5 Love waves exist

Surface waves Long horizontal km/s in the because of the Earth’s
waves motion Earth surface. They are
depending on largest at the surface.
frequency of
the
propagating
wave

Rwaves Rayleigh, Motion is both V R ~ 2.0 - 4.5 Rayleigh waves are

Surface waves, Long in the km/s in the also dispersive and the
waves, Ground roll direction of Earth amplitudes generally
propagation depending on decrease with depth in
and frequency of the Earth. Appearance
perpendicular. the and particle motion are
propagating similar to water waves.
wave

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 What’s More

Objective: Recall the characteristics of seismic waves in terms of speed.

• The students will develop their skill in critical thinking.

Activity 1.1 Seismic waves

Use the following clues, to complete the tabulation below.

A B C

Wave movement Speed

*Vibrate from side to side or up

and down
*Compress and expand like an *Slower than P waves, faster than
accordion surface waves

*Can make ground roll like waves *Fastest of all wave types
or up and down *Slowest of all wave types

Location

*Can only travel through solids

*Can travel through solids and
liquids
*Travel through crust on Earth’s
surface

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 *P and S waves become this if they
reach surface
*Also called secondary, shear or side
Other Info
waves
*The first waves to hit the surface
aka Primary

Wave Picture/Drawing of Summary of Speed Location Other

Type Wave Movement wave Info
movement

P - Wave

S - Wave

Surface
Wave

Guide Questions:

1. What produces seismic waves?

____________________________________________________________________

2. Which seismic wave only travel on the Earth surface?

____________________________________________________________________

3. Which seismic wave stay on Earth’s surface?

____________________________________________________________________

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 What I Have Learned

• When an earthquake occurs, the shockwaves of released energy

that shake the Earth are called seismic waves, from the Greek
‘seismos’ meaning ‘earthquake’. Seismic waves are usually
generated by movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates but may also
be caused by explosions, volcanoes and landslides.

• There are two kinds of seismic waves: body waves, which travel
through the Earth’s surface, and surface waves, which travel on
Earth’s surface. Body waves are further classified as primary or P-
waves, which are longitudinal waves that move fast. S-waves, or
secondary waves, are transverse waves that move slowly

What I Can Do

• Make a paragraph discussing “What can seismic waves tells us”.

(50 words).

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 Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following type of seismic waves cause the most damage?

A. Love waves C. S-waves

B. P-waves D. Rayleigh waves

2. The ‘S” in the S-waves stands for

A. Secondary C. Scary
B. Seismic D. Super

3. What do we use to record seismic waves?

A. Seisnonet C. Seismograph
B. Seismonomer D. Seismoscope

4. Good evidence that the Earth has layered structure is where seismic
waves:

A. Suddenly change paths when the density abruptly changes

B. Travel in gently curving paths due to refraction
C. Travel through straight line through the Earth
D. Travel in gently curving paths due to diffraction

5. An abrupt change in the speed of seismic waves is an indication that

the

A. Waves are passing through materials of different densities

B. Waves are passing through materials of the same densities
C. Shear wave has overtaken the compressional wave
D. Seismic waves are colliding

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 Additional Activities

Complete the table by placing check marks in the correct columns.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SEISMIC WAVES

Characteristic P-waves S-waves L-waves

Travel through
gases

Surface waves

Used to find the

epicenter

Fastest waves

Push-pull waves

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 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. With increasing distance from the focus, energy from an earthquake

A. Doubles in strength

B. Disappears within a few miles

C. Heats up

D. Separate from the core

2. To locate an epicenter, the distance from ______________ different

seismic stations must be known

A. Two C. Four

B. Three D. Five

3. The method used to determine the epicenter of an earthquake

A. Circulation C. triangulation

B. Time travel D. seismology

4. The location on the surface directly above the earthquake focus

A. Epicenter C. epicycle

B. Ephemeral D. episode

5. Seismic waves and light waves have the following in common

A. They come from the sun

B. They come from a source and move outward

C. They all travel at the same speed unless they change medium

D. They all can be put onto the electromagnetic spectrum

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 Lesson
Locating Epicenter of
2 Earthquake (Triangulation)

The theory of plate tectonics states that the earth's crust is made up of
large slowly moving pieces of rock called plates. Because of these plates, the
Earth's crust has changed over time and is still changing. Scientists believe
that there was once a supercontinent called Pangea that eventually broke up
into pieces, like a puzzle. These pieces drifted apart very slowly.

What’s New

Finding an Epicenter using Triangulation Method

To locate the epicenter of an earthquake, scientists must have
seismograms from at least three seismic stations. The procedure for locating
an epicenter has three steps:

• Scientists find the difference between the arrival times of the primary
and the secondary waves at each of the three stations.

• The time difference is used to determine the distance of the epicenter

from each station. The greater the difference in time, the farther away
the epicenter is.

• A circle is drawn around each station, with a radius corresponding to

the epicenter’s distance from that station. The point where the three
circles meet is the epicenter

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• www.classzone.com › sci_sc_8 › accessibility › sci_sc_8 › page_233

You need three recording stations to find the location of the

earthquake epicenter. A single recording station can only calculate
distance; If two earthquake stations are used, the two circles will meet
at two points. Data from a third recording station is needed to eliminate
one of these points

http://www.oakton.edu/user/4/billtong/eas100lab/lab10quake.html

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 What’s More

Objectives:
• Explain triangulation method in locating epicenter of earthquakes.

• Locate the earthquake epicenter using the triangulation method.

• To improve communication skill of the students.

Activity 2.1: Finding an epicenter using triangulation

An earthquake was recorded at Station A, B, C as shown in the map.
• Station A reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was 1500km
from the station
• Station B reported a distance of 3500km
• Station C reported a distance of 5000km
Using a ruler, compass and the scale 1cm = 1000km, label the
epicenter of the earthquake on this map.

Guide question:
1. Why would geologists need seismic data from three stations in order
to calculate the epicenter of an earthquake? Why would they not be
able to only use two stations?
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

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 What I Have Learned

Things to ponder:

1. Epicenter – the point on the surface directly above the focus.

2. Focus – the point within the Earth where the actual movement takes
place.

3. An earthquake epicenter can be located from records made by

earthquake waves on devises called seismographs.

4. The wave record from a seismograph is known as a seismogram.

5. A typical seismogram of an earthquake has three wave patterns. The

first wave to arrive are the P waves (primary, push -pull), followed by S
waves (secondary, shear or shake) and finally the L waves (long, love).
This investigation contains the (speed) seismograms from three
different stations for an earthquake.

6. Each of these waves travel at different velocities (speeds), even though

they are generated simultaneously by an earthquake at the focus.

7. The seismograph will detect P waves arriving first followed by S waves.

The time difference, as recorded on a clock, between the P waves and S
waves are called lag time.

8. Three recording stations are required to find the location of the

earthquake epicenter.

9. Triangulation requires seismic data from three centers. Calculate the

distance from each center using S-P interval and this distance will
serves as the radius for a circle around the center. The location where
the three circles overlap is triangulated.

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 What I Can Do
.

Think about it!

How do you think engineers use seismic data in the constructions of

buildings, houses, dams, and other infrastructures? Explain your answer
and include specific examples.

Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Seismic waves and light waves have the following in common

A. They come from the sun
B. They come from a source and move outward
C. They all travel at the same speed unless they change medium
D. They all can be put onto the electromagnetic spectrum
2. With increasing distance from the focus, energy from an
earthquake
A. Doubles in strength
B. Disappears within a few miles
C. Heats up
D. Separate from the core
3. To locate an epicenter, the distance from ______________ different
seismic stations must be known
A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Five
4. The method used to determine the epicenter of an earthquake
A. Circulation C. triangulation
B. Time travel D. seismology
5. The location on the surface directly above the earthquake focus
A. Epicenter C. epicycle
B. Ephemeral D. episode
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 Additional Activities

Answer the given puzzle.

Across
1. required number of recording station
5. method used to locate earthquake epicenter
6. shake or shear
7. wave record from the seismograph
8. first wave to arrive
Down
2. point directly above the focus
3. device that measures earthquake waves
4. point where the actual movement takes place

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 Answer Key

References

https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~braile/edumod/slinky/slinky.htm

https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_seismicw_lesson01_
activity1?utm_source=tptW

https://www.teachervision.com/earthquakes/what-are-different-kinds-
seismic-waves

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-40436-3_2

https://www.scribd.com/document/327436645/Triangulation-Worksheet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcqSj43evE0&pbjreload=10
https://study.com/search/text/academy.html?q=What+is+the+epicenter+of
https://www.oakton.edu/user/4/billtong/eas100lab/lab10quake.htm
www.classzone.com › sci_sc_8 › accessibility › sci_sc_8 › page_233

Lesson 1

WHAT I KNOW ASSESSMENT

1. C 1. A

2. A 2. A

3. A 3. C

4. B 4. B
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 5. B 5. B

Lesson 2

WHAT I KNOW ASSESSMENT

1. A 1. B
2. B 2. A
3. C 3. B
4. A 4. C
5. B 5. A

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